Systems and methods for conducting conference calls

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods performed by an IP telephony system allow a user to request that his IP telephony device be set into a conference calling mode for an indefinite period of time. When the user&#39;s IP telephony device is in the conference calling mode, all parties that attempt to call the user&#39;s IP telephony device are added to a conference bridge tied to the user&#39;s IP telephony device. All incoming calls are treated in this fashion until the user cancels the conference calling mode and returns to a normal calling mode.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/551,805 filed Nov. 24, 2014 which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/717,951 filed Dec. 18, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No.8,897,177 issued Nov. 25, 2014), the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems.More specifically, the invention is related to systems and methods forconducting conference calling to an IP telephony device.

Presently, it is possible to setup a conference call that is connectedto an IP telephony device. However, each conference call is set up on anindividual basis. This often requires the party who wishes to establisha conference call to obtain a central telephone number that all partiescan call to be connected to the conference call. This central telephonynumber must then be distributed to those parties who are to join theconference call. Also, it is often necessary for the callers to enterone or more special codes in order to be entered into the conferencecall bridge. Such codes must also be distributed to the people who areto join the conference.

What is needed is a simple way for an individual to setup a conferencecall. It is also desirable to simplify the way in which people join theconference call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communications environment including variouselements which are associated with an Internet protocol (IP) telephonysystem;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of various elements of a processor that forms partof an IP telephony system or an IP telephony device;

FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating various elements of an IP telephonysystem embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a method embodying theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a second flowchart illustrating steps of another methodembodying the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a third flowchart illustrating steps of another methodembodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of preferred embodiments refers tothe accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention. Other embodiments having different structures and operationsdo not depart from the scope of the present invention.

In the following description, the terms VOIP system, VOIP telephonysystem, IP system and IP telephony system are all intended to refer to asystem that connects callers and that delivers data, text or videocommunications using Internet protocol data communications.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a communications environment 100 is providedto facilitate IP based communications. An IP telephony system 120enables connection of telephone calls between its own customers andother parties via data communications that pass over a data network. Thedata network is commonly the Internet 110, however, private datanetworks may form all or a portion of the data communication path. TheIP telephony system 120 is connected to the Internet 110. In addition,the IP telephony system 120 is connected to both a publicly switchedtelephone network (PSTN) 130 via one or more gateways 122.

The gateway 122 allows users and devices that are connected to the PSTN130 to connect with users and devices that are reachable through thefirst IP telephony system 120, and vice versa. In some instances, thegateway 122 would be a part of the first IP telephony system 120. Inother instances, the gateway 122 could be maintained by a third party.

Customers of the first IP telephony system 120 can place and receivetelephone calls using an IP telephone 108 that is connected to theInternet 110. Such an IP telephone 108 could be connected to an Internetservice provider via a wired connection or via a wireless router. Insome instances, the IP telephone 108 could utilize a cellular telephonesystem to access the Internet 110.

Alternatively, a customer could utilize a normal analog telephone 102 awhich is connected to the Internet 110 via a telephone adapter 104. Thetelephone adapter 104 converts analog signals from the telephone 102 ainto data signals that pass over the Internet 110, and vice versa. Also,as illustrated in FIG. 1, multiple analog telephone devices 102 a and102 b could all be coupled to the same telephone adaptor 104. Analogtelephone devices include, but are not limited to, standard telephonesand document imaging devices such as facsimile machines. A configurationusing a telephone adapter 104 is common where all of the analogtelephone devices 102 a, 102 b are located in a residence or business,and all of the telephone devices are connected to the same telephoneadapter. With this configuration, all of the analog telephone devices102 a, 102 b share the same telephone number assigned to the telephoneadaptor 104. Other configurations are also possible where multiplecommunication lines (e.g., a second telephone number) are provisioned bythe IP telephony system 120.

In addition, a customer could utilize a soft-phone client running on acomputer 106 to place and receive IP based telephone calls, and toaccess other IP telephony systems (not shown). In some instances, thesoft-phone client could be assigned its own telephone number. In otherinstances, the soft-phone client could be associated with a telephonenumber that is also assigned to an IP telephone 108, or to a telephoneadaptor 104 that is connected to one or more analog telephones 102.

A third party using a first analog telephone 132 which is connected tothe PSTN 130 may call a customer of the IP telephony system 120. In thisinstance, the call is initially connected from the first analogtelephone 132 to the PSTN 130, and then from the PSTN 130, through thegateway 122 to the first IP telephony system 120. The first IP telephonysystem 120 then routes the call to the customer's IP telephony device. Athird party using a cellular telephone 136 could also place a call to anIP telephony system customer, and the connection would be established ina similar manner, although the first link would involve communicationsbetween the cellular telephone 136 and a cellular telephone network. Forpurposes of this explanation, the cellular telephone network isconsidered part of the first PSTN 130.

In addition, mobile computing devices which include cellular telephonecapabilities could also be used to place telephone calls to customers ofthe IP telephony system 120. A smartphone 138 having both cellulartelephone capabilities and the ability to run a software IP telephonyclient could place a call through a cellular network 130, or via the IPtelephony system 120. The smartphone 138 may connect to the IP telephonysystem 120 via a wireless data connection passing through the cellularnetwork 130, or via a wireless connection to the Internet 110 providedby a wireless access point. Of course, alternate embodiments couldutilize any other form of wired or wireless communications path toenable communications.

Users of the first IP telephony system 120 are able to access theservice from virtually any location where they can connect to theInternet 110. Thus, a customer could register with an IP telephonysystem provider in the U.S., and that customer could then use an IPtelephone 108 located in a country outside the U.S. to access theservices. Likewise, the customer could also utilize a computer outsidethe U.S. that is running a soft-phone client to access the first IPtelephony system 120. Further, in some instances a user could place atelephone call with the first analog telephone 132, a second analogtelephone 134 or the cellular telephone 136 that is routed through thePSTN 130 to the IP telephony system 120 via the gateway 122. This wouldtypically be accomplished by the user calling a local telephone numberthat is routed to the IP telephony system 120 via the gateway 122. Onceconnected to the IP telephony system 120, the user may then place anoutgoing long distance call to anywhere in the world using the IPtelephony system's network. Thus, the user is able place a long distancecall using lower cost IP telephony service provided by the IP telephonysystem 120, rather than a higher cost service provided by the PSTN 130.

FIG. 2 illustrates elements of a computer processor 250 that can be usedas part of the IP telephony system 120 to accomplish various functions.The IP telephony system 120 could include multiple processors 250located at various locations in the system, along with their operatingcomponents and programming, each carrying out a specific or dedicatedportion of the functions performed by the IP telephony system 120.

The processor 250 shown in FIG. 2 may be one of any form of a generalpurpose computer processor used in accessing an IP-based network, suchas a corporate intranet, the Internet or the like. The processor 250comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 252, a memory 254, and supportcircuits 256 for the CPU 252. The processor 250 also includes provisions258/260 for connecting the processor 250 to customer equipment, toservice provider equipment, to and IP network or gateways, as well aspossibly one or more input/output devices (not shown) for accessing theprocessor and/or performing ancillary or administrative functionsrelated thereto. The provisions 258/260 are shown as separate busstructures in FIG. 2; however, they may alternately be a single busstructure without degrading or otherwise changing the intendedoperability of the processor 250.

The memory 254 is coupled to the CPU 252. The memory 254, orcomputer-readable medium, may be one or more of readily available memorysuch as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), floppy disk,hard disk, flash memory or any other form of digital storage, local orremote, and is preferably of non-volatile nature. The support circuits256 are coupled to the CPU 252 for supporting the processor in aconventional manner. These circuits include cache, power supplies, clockcircuits, input/output circuitry and subsystems, and the like.

A software routine 262, when executed by the CPU 252, causes theprocessor 250 to perform processes of the disclosed embodiments, and isgenerally stored in the memory 254. The software routine 262 may also bestored and/or executed by a second CPU (not shown) that is remotelylocated from the hardware being controlled by the CPU 252. Also, thesoftware routines could also be stored remotely from the CPU. Forexample, the software could be resident on servers and memory devicesthat are located remotely from the CPU, but which are accessible to theCPU via a data network connection.

The software routine 262, when executed by the CPU 252, transforms thegeneral purpose computer into a specific purpose computer that performsone or more functions of the IP telephony system 120. Although theprocesses of the disclosed embodiments may be discussed as beingimplemented as a software routine, some of the method steps that aredisclosed therein may be performed in hardware as well as by a processorrunning software. As such, the embodiments may be implemented insoftware as executed upon a computer system, in hardware as anapplication specific integrated circuit or other type of hardwareimplementation, or a combination of software and hardware. The softwareroutine 262 of the disclosed embodiments is capable of being executed onany computer operating system, and is capable of being performed usingany CPU architecture.

In the following description, references will be made to an “IPtelephony device.” This term is used to refer to any type of devicewhich is capable of interacting with an IP telephony system to completea telephone call. An IP telephony device could be an IP telephone, acomputer running IP telephony software, a telephone adapter which isconnected to an analog telephone, or some other type of device capableof communicating via data packets. An IP telephony device could also bea cellular telephone or a portable or tablet computing device that runsa software client that enables the device to act as an IP telephone.Thus, a single device might be capable of operating as both a cellulartelephone and an IP telephony device.

Moreover, certain devices that are not traditionally used as telephonydevices may act as telephony devices once they are configured withappropriate client software. Thus, some devices that would not normallybe considered telephony devices may become telephony devices or IPtelephony devices once they are running appropriate software. Oneexample would be a desktop or a laptop computer that is running softwarethat can interact with an IP telephony system over a data network toconduct telephone calls. Another example would be a portable computingdevice, such as an Apple iPod touch™, which includes a speaker and amicrophone. A software application loaded onto an Apple iPod touch™ canbe run so that the Apple iPod touch can interact with an IP telephonysystem to conduct a telephone call.

The following description will also refer to telephony communicationsand telephony activity. These terms are intended to encompass all typesof telephone communications, regardless of whether all or a portion ofthe calls are carried in an analog or digital format. Telephonycommunications could include audio or video telephone calls, facsimiletransmissions, text messages, SMS messages, MMS messages, videomessages, and all other types of telephony and data communications sentby or received by a user. These terms are also intended to encompassdata communications that are conveyed through a PSTN or VOIP telephonysystem. In other words, these terms are intended to encompass anycommunications whatsoever, in any format, which traverse all or aportion of a communications network or telephony network.

FIG. 3 illustrates some elements which may be present in an IP telephonysystem 300. As shown therein, the IP telephony system 300 can include arouting unit 302 which is responsible for determining how to reachindividual telephony devices. The IP telephony system 300 also includesa billing unit 304 that is responsible for billing users for calls andother forms of communications which are routed through the system. TheIP telephony system 300 further includes a communication setup unit 310that is configured to establish telephony communications betweentelephony devices.

A user's account with the IP telephony system 300 may be associated witha single IP telephony device, or with multiple IP telephonydevices/clients. For example, a user's account may be associated withboth an IP telephony device 108, and a software client running on acomputer 106. A software client on a smartphone 138 may also beassociated with the user's account with the IP telephony system 300.

Further, a user's account with the IP telephony system 300 may beassociated with a single identifier, such as a telephone number, or withmultiple identifiers. For example, the user's account may be associatedwith a first identifier, such as a telephone number, which is assignedto an IP telephony device 108, as well as a second identifier associatedwith an IP client running on a smartphone 138.

When the IP telephony system 300 receives an incoming telephonycommunication setup request that is directed to an identifier (such as atelephone number) associated with a user's account, the communicationsetup unit 310 attempts to setup the requested telephony communicationto one or more of the telephony devices/clients associated with theidentifier. This could include attempting to setup the telephonycommunication to only one of the user's devices which are associatedwith the identifier, or attempting to setup the telephony communicationto multiple ones of the user's devices/clients. In situations where thecommunication setup unit 310 attempts to setup the telephonycommunication to multiple devices/clients, the attempt could be made toall of the devices/clients substantially simultaneously, or in apredetermined sequence.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication setup unit 310 includes anormal call setup unit 312 that is configured to setup a normal twoparty communication between first and second telephony devices. Thiscould include audio or video telephone calls that are placed between twoparties, as well as other forms of telephony communications, such as SMSor MMS messages.

The communications setup unit 310 also includes a conference call setupunit 314 which is configured to setup a conference call for multipleparties. In some instances, this can include connecting multiple partiesto a single IP telephony device or client. The parties to the conferencecall could be using other IP telephony devices, or analog or cellulartelephones that are reachable only via a PSTN or cellular telephonenetwork.

The communications setup unit 310 further includes a conference callmode setting unit 316. In systems and methods embodying the invention, auser's account with the IP telephony system can be switched between aconference calling mode and a normal mode. If a user's account with theIP telephony system 300 is associated with multiple differentidentifiers, such as multiple different telephone numbers, it may bepossible to switch each identifier between a normal mode and aconference calling mode. The purposes and effects of setting theconference calling mode are described below.

When a user's account is switched to the normal mode, the normal callsetup unit 312 handles any incoming telephony communication setuprequests that are directed to an identifier associated with the user'saccount. The normal call setup unit 312 handles the incoming telephonycommunication setup request in a conventional fashion. If a telephonydevice associated with the identifier in the setup request is available,the normal call setup unit 312 attempts to setup the requestedcommunication to that telephony device. If the telephony device isalready engaged in a telephony communication, the normal call setup unit312 may play a busy signal to the party that sent the setup request, orthe party could be routed to a voicemail system. In some instances, ifthe called telephony device is already engaged in a telephonycommunication, a call waiting tone may be played to the called party sothat the called party can decide whether to switch to the incomingtelephony communication. These conventional ways of handling an incomingtelephony communication setup request are well known to those ofordinary skill in the art.

If the user's account is instead switched to the conference callingmode, the conference call setup unit 314 handles the incoming telephonycommunication setup request. In this instance, the call is essentiallytreated as a request to enter into a conference call with the calledparty's telephony device/client. If the called party's telephony deviceis not already engaged in a telephony communication, the conference callsetup unit 314 attempts to setup a first communications session with thecalled party's telephony device. If the called party's telephony deviceis already engaged in a telephony communication, the conference callsetup unit may simply add the new (calling) party into the existingtelephony communication. This is essentially like adding another partyto a conference call bridge.

A user of the IP telephony system 300 can issue a request to set theiraccount with the IP telephony system 300 into the conference callingmode. That request is received by the conference call mode setting unit316, which sets the conference calling mode for the user in response tosuch a request. As noted above, a request may be for all devices/clientsassociated with the user's account with the IP telephony system 300.However, if the user's account is associated with multiple differentidentifiers (such as telephone numbers), the conference calling mode maybe individually set for each identifier.

A request to set the conference calling mode on could be sent by theuser from one or more of the user's IP telephony devices/clients.Alternatively, a user may be capable of issuing a request to set theconference calling mode on via a web browser interface, or by calling acustomer service representative or an interactive voice response system.Likewise, a request to cancel the conference calling mode and to returnto the normal calling mode may be issued in the same ways.

Once the user has set the conference calling mode on, all incomingtelephony communication requests are handled by the conference callsetup unit 314 until the user specifically requests that the conferencecalling mode be canceled, and that his account (or an identifierassociated with an account) be returned to the normal mode.

If a user's account is in the conference calling mode, and only oneparty at a time seeks to setup a communication with the user's telephonydevice/client, it likely will appear that things are operating like thenormal calling mode. However, whenever a third party attempts to setup atelephony communication with the user while an existing telephonycommunication is ongoing, the third party will be conferenced into theexisting telephony communication. If a fourth party then attempts tosetup a telephony communication with the user, the fourth party willalso be conferenced into the existing telephony communication.

A system which operates as described above makes it very easy for a userto setup a conference call. The user need only issue a request to havehis account set into the conference calling mode. The user's accountcould be set into the conference calling mode regardless of whether theuser is already participating in a telephony communication. Thereafter,anybody that attempts to setup a telephony communication to anidentifier associated with the user's account will enter into aconference call with the user. The user does not need to distribute aspecial conference call bridge number, or any conference call codes, tothe people the user wishes to have join the conference call. The partiesto the conference call simply call the user's normal telephone number toconnect to the conference call.

Once the user no longer wishes to have the conference calling featureactivated, the user's simply issues a request to return to the normalcalling mode. However, until the user issues such a request, the user'saccount (or an identifier under the account) will remain in theconference calling mode.

FIG. 4 illustrates steps of a method which would be performed by an IPtelephony system embodying the invention when a telephony communicationsetup request is received. The method begins and proceeds to step S402,where a call setup request is received by the IP telephony system. Atstep S404, a determination is made as to whether the account ortelephony device associated with the identifier in the setup request isin the conference calling mode. If not, the method proceeds to stepS406, and a normal call setup unit 312 of the IP telephony systemattempts to setup the requested telephony communication in aconventional fashion. If the determination in step S404 indicates thatthe account or telephony device associated with the identifier in thesetup request is in the conference calling mode, the conference callsetup unit 314 of the IP telephony system attempts to setup the call instep S408 according to the conferencing calling procedures discussedabove. The method would then end.

In some embodiments of the invention, when a telephony communicationsetup request is received for an account or identifier that is in theconference calling mode, and the called party is already conducting atelephony communication, the setup request could be handled in differentways. In some embodiments, as discussed above, the calling party issimply conferenced into the existing telephony communication.

FIG. 5 illustrates steps of an alternate method that would be performedby the conference call setup unit 314 of an IP telephony system 300 whena telephony communication setup request is received for a called party'saccount/identifier that is set in the conference calling mode, and wherethe called party is already conducting an existing telephonycommunication. The method begins and proceeds to step S502, where thenew telephony communication setup request is received. In step S504, theconference call setup unit 314 sends a query to the called party askingif the new calling party should be allowed to join the existingtelephony communication. Caller ID information in the setup requestcould be provided to the called party to help the called party make adecision about whether to allow the calling party to join the existingtelephony communication. Also, the conference call setup unit may usethe caller ID information in the setup request to obtain additionalinformation about the calling party, and that information could also besent to the called party.

The query could be sent to the called party in a number of differentways. In some embodiments, a push notification could be sent to thecalled party's telephony device. In other embodiments, the called partymay receive an audio communication from the conference call setup unit314. In other instances, a text message, an instant message or an e-mailnotification could be sent to the called party. Any other form of querycould also be sent to the called party to inform the called party thatthe calling party is attempting to setup a telephony communication withthe called party.

In step S506, the conference call setup unit 314 receives instructionsback from the called party. The instructions could be sent to theconference call setup unit 314 in any of the ways identified above forthe original query, or in any other fashion. Then, in step S508, theincoming setup request is handled based on the called party'sinstructions. This includes but is not limited to adding the callingparty to the existing telephony communication, sending the calling partyto voicemail, indicating that the calling party is unavailable.

FIG. 6 illustrates steps of another method that could be performed bythe conference call setup unit when an incoming telephony communicationsetup request is received for a called party who has theiraccount/identifier set into the conference calling mode, and where thecalled party is already conducting a telephony communication. The methodbegins and proceeds to step S602, where the incoming setup request isreceived. In step S604, the conference call setup unit 314 obtainsinformation about the existing telephony communication being conductedby the called party. This could include obtaining information about thenumber and/or identity of the parties to the existing telephonycommunication.

In step S606 a query is sent to the calling party asking how the callingparty would like their setup request to be handled. The query couldinclude the information obtained about the existing telephonycommunication already being conducted by the called party. The querycould be sent to the calling party in a number of different ways, suchas by sending a push notification to the calling party's telephonydevice. In other embodiments, the calling party may receive an audiocommunication from the conference call setup unit 314. In otherinstances, a text message, an instant message or an e-mail notificationcould be sent to the calling party. Any other form of query could alsobe sent to the calling party.

In step S608, the conference call setup unit 314 receives instructionsfrom the calling party about how the calling party's setup requestshould be handled. This could include conferencing the calling partyinto the existing telephony communication, routing the calling party tovoicemail, or handling the calling party's setup request in any otherfashion. In step S610, the conference call setup unit 314 handles thesetup request as specified by the calling party.

With methods as described above in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6,additional information is used to determine how to handle a call setuprequest when the called party has set his account in the conference callmode, and where the called party is already conducting a telephonycommunication. This makes it possible to selectively add callers to anongoing conference call. This also make it possible to avoid joining aconference call when the calling party wishes to speak privately to thecalled party.

In some embodiments, the user may have the ability to request that hisaccount be set into the conference calling mode at a particular time,and/or that if be set back into a normal calling mode at a particulartime. If the user has requested that his account be set from theconference calling mode back into the normal calling mode, and aconference call is ongoing at the point in time that the account is torevert to the normal calling mode, the account will remain in theconference calling mode until the conference call that is in progresshas ended. After which, the account will revert to the normal callingmode.

A user may also have the ability to send out invites to individuals toask them to participate in a conference call. The user may be able toselect individuals from a contact list to cause invites to be sent tothe selected individuals. A user may also be provided with a webinterface that allows the user to send out invitations. Invitationscould be delivered via voice messages, SMS or MMS messages, e-mail, bycontacting an individual and performing an interactive voice responseapplication, or by other suitable means. The user may also be able toschedule the delivery of such invitations.

In some instances, the user could set his account into conferencecalling mode, and also setup an identification/access code that callersmust use to join into a conference call that involves the user'saccount. The user may have the option of specifying differentidentification/access codes for different individuals. Informationregarding the identification/access codes could be included in invitessent to individuals. Of course, an identification/access code may not berequired for any participants, or identification/access codes may berequired for some participants, but not all.

A user may also be capable of setting up a list for a conference callahead of the time that a call is to be conducted. The list could be ofpeople who are to be granted access to the call, or people who are to beexcluded from the call, or both. When the user's account is placed intothe conference calling mode, people on an excluded list will be unableto join the call. The communication setup unit could exclude callersbased on the caller ID information that is received during call setup,or in other ways.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing telephony communications for an IP telephony device, the method being performed by at least an IP telephony system, the method comprising: sending invitations to at least one invitee of a future communication; setting an account of an the IP telephony device into a first calling mode; and handling an incoming telephony communication setup request directed to the account by directing each telephony communication setup request as a request to conduct a call, in association with the first calling mode, with the IP telephony device until the first calling mode is changed.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the invitations are sent to the at least one invitee by a means selected from the group consisting of a voice message, an email, an SMS, an MMS, contacting the invitee directly and an interactive voice response application.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery of the invitations are scheduled in advance of the future communication.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one invitee is associated with an access code.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one invitee uses the access code to join the future communication.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein information regarding the access code is included in the invitation sent to the at least one invitee.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a list of contacts associated with the future communication.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of contacts is selected from the group consisting of: invitees who are to be granted access to the future communication; and people who are to be excluded from the future communication.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein caller ID information is processed to determine at the time of the future communication to determine exclusion from same.
 10. A system for managing telephony communications for an IP telephony device, comprising: a processing system having at least one processor, the processing system configured to: send invitations to at least one invitee of a future communication; set an account of an the IP telephony device into a first calling mode; and handle an incoming telephony communication setup request directed to the account by directing each telephony communication setup request as a request to conduct a call, in association with the first calling mode, with the IP telephony device until the first calling mode is changed.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the invitations are sent to the at least one invitee by a means selected from the group consisting of a voice message, an email, an SMS, an MMS, contacting the invitee directly and an interactive voice response application.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the delivery of the invitations are scheduled in advance of the future communication.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one invitee is associated with an access code.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one invitee uses the access code to join the future communication.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein information regarding the access code is included in the invitation sent to the at least one invitee.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein a list of contacts associated with the future communication is established.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the list of contacts is selected from the group consisting of: invitees who are to be granted access to the future communication; and people who are to be excluded from the future communication.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein caller ID information is processed to determine at the time of the future communication to determine exclusion from same.
 19. An apparatus for managing telephony communications for an IP telephony device, the apparatus having at least one processor and configured to provide execution comprising: sending invitations to at least one invitee of a future communication; setting an account of an the IP telephony device into a first calling mode; and handling an incoming telephony communication setup request directed to the account by directing each telephony communication setup request as a request to conduct a call, in association with the first calling mode, with the IP telephony device until the first calling mode is changed.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the invitations are sent to the at least one invitee by a means selected from the group consisting of a voice message, an email, an SMS, an MMS, contacting the invitee directly and an interactive voice response application. 